Echolink is of
course only available to Radio Amateurs, who can send a JPG
copy of a valid licence. It allows you to contact other HAMS using
Repeaters anywhere in the world using the Internet. It can be done with a VHF
Transmitter by accessing a local Repeater that has Echolink installed.
Otherwise you can just use a PC, as below that shows hundreds of repeaters in
green and all the HAMS registered to use Echolink in black. I can hear some
nattering without having to Transmit, but they can see say some guy from Hastings with the callsign
M3YXH is listening. Note you are advised to run a recorded test transmission
first using Station / Connect to Test Server.
You use the Spacebar to transmit on / off.Visit http://www.echolink.org/ for the free
software.

In spite of the
need to produce a copy of a licence, some HAMS claim this is ' not really
Amateur Radio ' . This is probably because unlike having to overcome the massive
interference with HF (Short waves), there is not great challenge in contacting
others with Echolink, especially if using a PC. But unlike most of HF you
can have long clear contacts. So perhaps the truth is really some HAMs are reluctant to talk to a
complete stranger from miles away, and prefer the few second contacts of just
exchanging reception reports and QSL postcards.